Mechanism for assembling match packets and the like



E. PARKER MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THELIKE Filed OCt.-9, 1937, 5 sheetssheet i in 27,- 1938. L. E. PARKER 2,141,433

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 9, 19375 Sheets-Sheet 2 193$ L. E. PARKER 2,141,483 MECHANISM FOR ASS EMBLINGMATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Filed 00th 9, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. E.PARKER .Dec} 27, 1938.

MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS KND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 9, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 4 u-cE. 5v ism/roe QM mm E. PARKER 2,141,483 .IFIIPANISMFOR ASSEMBLING MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKE Dec. 27, 1938.

5 Sheets-Slieet '5 'Filed Oct. 9, 1937 .26 ing Patented Dec. 27, 1938"PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING' MATCH PACKETS AND THE LIKELucian E. Parker, Wadsworth, Ohio, The Diamond Match Company,

assignor to New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 9,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for assembling match packets and thelike, and especially book matches of the type wherein each bookcomprises one or more cards of matches 5 enclosed in a flexible coverhaving a long front flap which when closed is adapted to be tucked underthe free edge of a short front retaining foldto which and the back ofthe cover are fastened the base or bases of the match card or 10 cards.The mechanism herein illustrated as an embodiment of my invention hasbeen designed for use more especially in connection with a continuousmatch booking machine from which the complete match books are deliveredflatwise in 15 succeeding pairs, all in similar endwise and facearrangement, that is, the larger or headed ends of the matches point inone direction and the folded facesof the books are upward, as forexample, in United States Patent No. 1,042,472, dated October Theprincipal object of my invention is to provide novel andefficientmechanism which is arranged and adapted to receive the matchbooks pair by pair as they are discharged from the bookmachine, andwhich mechanism thereupon partially turns the books in successive orderin opposite directions, and in planes parallel to the faces of therespective books, preparatory to their delivery insuccession to apacking trough, thus 80 endwise reversing the books in a manner toensure their uniform and compact assemblage within the trough with thesmooth back of each book in contact with the folded front of theadjacent book. Such disposition of the books ob- 85 viates any liabilityof the interlocking of the opposing folds of adjacent books '(as wherethe folded fronts of the books are in contact) during the removal of abook from a container in which they may be subsequently stacked, as forexample, 40 the supply hopper of a machine for vending book matches.

With this object inview (and others) my in vention comprises novelfeatures of construction and combinations of parts, which in a preferred45 form will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention thenbeing expressed in the appended claims. I

In the drawings- 7 r Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of50 match book assembling mechanism embodying my invention, showing thesame in' its co-operative relation to the cover-tucking devices of thebooking machine. I Fig. 2 is a plan of the said mechanism. ll Fig. 3 isa partial vertical section of the inter- 193'7, Serial No. 168,143

mittently rotatable book reversing element and adjuncts of theassembling mechanism, several of the book holder heads being removed,and the parts being shown in their relative positions before thecompletion of a step of said element.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the packingtrough being omitted. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the peripheral faceplates of the book reversing element.

Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection of the mechanism, 10 as on the line 6-6 ofFig.1. Fig. '7 is a development of a series of pairs of intermittentlyrotatable book holder heads which are arranged and adapted to receivethe match books in successive pairs as they are discharged from thebooking machine, and transfer them thence in endwise reversed relationto the receiving end of the packing trough, such holder heads and thebooks therein being shown in the relative positions which they arecaused to assume during their intermittent travel. Fig. 8 is a similardevelopment of the holder heads in broken lines, showing the axial studsand toes of the respective holder heads and the relation of the. toes toeach other and to the station- 5 ary controlling cams therefor.

Fig. 9 illustrates a succession of match books in the relative positionswhich they occupy when assembled in the packing trough.

Referring to the drawings, l0 designates the usual intermittentlyrotatable flap folding wheel of a typical match booking machine, fromwhich wheel the match books, in'pairs, are delivered horizontally insimilar endwise and face arrangementupon yielding supporting plates IIby the 5 action of a reciprocating ejector frame l2, the larger orheaded ends of the matches leading and the folded faces of the coversbeing upward. The plates H are secured to the floor of a bed 13 havingparallel channels into which thebooks 40 are ejected. The bookingmachine also includes two tucker members [4 which are carried. byreciprocating arms l5 andare operative to insert I the free ends of thecover flaps a of each successive pair of books B under 0 of the coversat the narrow ends of the respective books. Each pair of closed booksare pushed onward 'by the next succeeding pair of books presented to thetuckers, and are thereby entered in the adjacent peripheral book holder50 heads of an intermittently movable book reversing element embodyingthe principle of my invention. The tucker arms l5 have secured theretoadjacent the members l4 shoe-like members 15 which by virtue of the thestapled short folds motion of the arms I5 5* push down and hold thebooks immediately following the delivery of the books in the holder (SeeFig. 1.)

The book reversing element herein illustrated is in the form of anoctagonal wheel which is central shaft l1 having its ends fixed inbrackets l8 conveniently supportedby the frame structure for the packingtrough I!) in which assembled in two parallel rows.

Any suitable ing the reversing wheel in timed relation to the bookingmachine may be employed. In the prestucker-actuating shaft of thebooking machine. The gear ratio between the tucker-actuating shaft andthe shaft 22 is one to two because of the double driver.

The reversing wheel in the form shown comprises two spaced end heads '24with interposed peripheral face plates 25 bolted thereto, the end headshaving central hubs 26 through which the shaft ll extends.

When in each dwell of the reversing wheel a pair of holder heads arelocated adjacent the tuckers E4 the toes 3B of such heads extend eitheroutwardly or inwardly; that is to say, the toes toes 38 for such headsextend outwardly, that is, toward the respective sides of the reversingwheel, and that the actuating toes for the next succeeding pair of headsextend inwardly, that is, toward the mid-portion of the wheel, and so onin alternation.

When the match books have been delivered to the books are 7 means forintermittently rotattheir books and partially turned holder heads theactuating toes 30 of such heads abut suitably-disposed stationary cams35 or 38 located within the reversing wheel, which cams effect thepartial turning of the toes through opposite paths of each, thuscorrespondingly swinging the supported books in planes parallel In thepresent instance two similar laterally disposed single-face sector cams35 and an intermediate corresponding double-face cam 36 are extendingpairs of the alternate toes abut the intermediate cam 36, thus partiallyturning the studs and their loaded heads a quarter turn in alternationin a manner to position the adjacent match books of the two rows withtheir larger tween the cams, as indicated at Fig. 8.

When any pair of holder heads 28 have received been advanced two steps,the

-to prevent the books from having at its lower end a laterallyprojecting pin depending blocks rapid rotation of the reversing wheel.

gage and hold each ,are placed in the trough ous loading positionswherein the. toes slot 46. through which passes 'a connecting bolt 41for the associated leg and arm, thus providing betweenthe bar M andshaft 45 an efficient connection whereby the positionof thefingers inrelation to the rotary path of the holder heads can be readily adjusted.(See Figs. 3 and i.)

:Fixed .to the rock shaft 45 is an upstanding arm 48 having alaterally-disposed roll 49 which is held by means, for example, of asuitably-disposed spring 50 in the path of a cam on the driven shaft 22.

Adjacent the path-of the holder heads 28 in their. travel from the bookloading to the book discharging position is a curved plate 52 which ishingedly connected at its upper end to the supporting'bed [3 adjacentthe tuckers, which plate is arranged and adapted to serve as a guardflying out of the holder heads by centrifugal force during theOverhangingthe receiving end of the packing trough'are two spacedgripper members 5 3 having depending lips 54 which are effective toenpair of books as the books l9 bythe oscillating fingers 38. Thegrippers are fast on a rock-shaft 55 which is journaled at its ends inbearings 56 on the respective sides of the trough. Fixed to one end ofthe shaft 55 is an arm 51 to which'is pivoted, as at 58, the upper-endofa depending bar 59 whereof the lower portion is guided ina slottedfixture'fio on the bracket 18. The rounded foot of the bar 59 isresilientlyheld in the path ofa suitably-disposed cam 6| on the drivenshaft 1 22, by means of a spring 62 which is secured at its respectiveends to the fixture 6t and the pivot pin 58. The positon of the cam 6!in relation to that of the cam 5| is such that the grippers areperiodically lifted to allow the books to pass into the trough anddropped to hold the books in position in the trough. Fast on therock-shaft 55 is a forwardly and downwardly inclined arm 53 64 whichrests on the opposing side of the trough and limits the descent of thegripper members. Loose on the rock-shaft 55 are two rearwardly 55 whichrest upon the underlying match books contained in the trough and serveasdogs to keep therows of. stacked books in the trough from pushingbacktoo hard against Y the grippers. (See Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6.)

As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the floor of the packing trough I9 is outawayat its receiving end, as indicated at 66, and is provided with ahingedbottom plate 61 which is normally held in raised position to closethe opening, by means of retracting springs 68'which are-secured to theends of the plate 61 and to arms 69 projecting from the bed l3. The freelongitudinal edge of the plate 61 is formed with spaced recesses whichare arranged to permit the free'movement of the upper ends of theejecting fingers 38 into and from the trough. The

supported plate 61 and itsmiountingis toallow a book or books'which hasor have become damaged in the process of manufacture down and dischargedbelow the plate by the pressure thereon of the adjacent travellingholder or pair of holders, 'thus obviating the otherwise liability ofajam in the trough.

After the successive pairs ,;of books have been delivered to the packingtrough the empty'holder heads in their return travel to the loadingstation are turned back on' their axes to their previobject of theresiliently path of feed during a to be carried 7 of the heads extendalternately in opposite directions and the respective arms 29 aretrailing. This return movement is effected by the. lateral contact ofthe progressing inwardly and outwardly extending arms 29 with suitablecams H and 12, respectively, which are situated adjacent to and inconcentric relation to the left hand side of the reversing wheel. Asshown there is a central cam I I and also opposite side cams 12, theformer being arranged in the path of the inwardly extending arms andoutwardly. extending arms. prises a'segmental plate bevelled or roundedat its'lower or free end, as at 13, and having parallel sidesM lyingin'close relation to the paths of the hubs of the two rows of arms 29during the intermittent travel of the reversing wheel. The upper end ofthe cam plate H is fastened to the lower end ofja substantiallysemi-circular guide'b'ar 15 which is affixed to a base block 16 on across-bar H which is supported by side plates 18 bolted to therespective brackets I8. (See Figs. l and 2.)

ward adjacent the loading station. The side cams 12 comprise shortsegmental bars which are fixed to arcuate guide-bars I9 fastened to thebase block it in spaced parallel relation to the respective sides of theoam plate I l When the inwardly and outwardly extending arms 29 of thealternate pairs of holder heads abut the respective ca ms 1i and 12, thearms of the successive pairs are turned to trailing position,- thussetting the toes of the alternate holder heads in outwardly and inwardlyextending posi tionsas they travel. to the loading station. Thepositions of the'guide bars 15 and 19 in relation to the cams Hand 12are such that the flat sides 32 of the succeeding pairs of holder headswhen theyare partially turned in their travel as just described "move insliding contact with theopposing parallel sides of such guide bars, andare thereby laterally supported and guided in their progress to theloading station, where they are again supplied withthe match booksdischarged from the tuckers.

It is tobe understood that the invention is not I limited to theparticular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanismmay be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim-- 1. In a'machine for assembling packets each including a coverhaving a flat backand a folded front portion, the combination with meansfor feeding'the packets end to end, all in similar endwise and facearrangement, of packet reversing means embodying an intermittentlymovable supporting element, actuating means for said element, acontinuous succession of travelling packet holders movable in succeedingorder by the said element to a location under and in receptive positionfor the leading packet in the dwell of said element, said holdersmounted on said element at spaced intervals for independent oscillatorymovement about axes at right angles to the planes of the respectiveholders during the travel of said element, means'for partially turningon their axes. and in opposite paths during the continued movement ofthe supporting element cation the'alternate holders and their contents,means'for-ejecting at the latter location each succeeding packetflatwise from its holder, thus arranging the ejected packets with Thecam II comto another .lo-

the flat back ll;

a receiving position v ling packet holders of each in contact nextadjacent 'packetand with the ends of such packets reversed, and meansfor partially turning the empty holders on their axes to packeters tothe first-named location.

2. In a machine for assembling packets each including a cover having aflat back and a folded front portion, the combination with means forfeeding the packets end to end, all in similar endwise and facearrangement, of packet reversing means embodying an intermittentlymovable supporting element, actuating means for said element, acontinuous succession of travelling packet holders movable in succeedingorder by the said element to a location under and in receptive positionfor the leading packet in the path of feed during a dwell of saidelement, said holders said element, each of said holders comprising anopen-face holder head, an axial stud therefor, an arm and a toe fast onsaid stud in angular relation to each other, cam means with which thetoes co-act in succession as the holders travel to another location,thereby partially turning the alternate holder heads and their packetcontents in opposite paths, means for thereafter ejecting eachsucceeding packet fiatwise from its holder head, and means constructedand arranged'to co-act with the arms of the empty holders during thereturn of the holders to the first-named location, and thereby turn saidholders on their axes to their previous packet-receiving positions.

3. In a machine for assembling packets each including a cover having aflat back and a folded front portion, the combination with means forfeeding the packets end to end, all in similar endwise and facearrangement, of packet reversing means embodying an intermittentlymovable supporting element, actuating means for' said element, acontinuous succession of travelmovable in succeeding order a locationunder and in receptive position for the leading packet in the path offeed during a dwell of said element, said holders mounted on saidelement at spaced inby said element to tervals for independentoscillatory movement about axes at right angles to-the planes of therespective holders during the travel of said element, and each of saidholders comprising an open-face holder head, an axial stud therefor, anarm and a toe fast on said stud in angular relation to each other, aplurality of parallel cams with which the toes co-act as the holderstravel to another location, thereby partially turning the alternateholder heads and their contents in opposite paths, said toes in theirtravel passing between and being guided by the cams, means forthereafter e ecting each succeedin packet holder head, and meansconstructed and arranged to co-act with the arms of the empty holdersduring the return of such holders to the first-named location and turnsaid holders ontheir axes to their previous packet-receiving positions.

4. In a machine for assembling packets each including a cover having afiat back and a folded front portion, the combination with means forfeeding the packets end to end, all in similar endwise and facearrangement, of packet reversing means embodying an intermittentlymovthereby 2,141,483, with the folded front of the said element, acontinuous succession of travelling packet holders movable in succeedingorder for assembling packets each second-named location,

ing the return of said holders to the first-named ejecting a packetvflatwise from each succeeding packet holder, a packing trough having atits receiving end a resiliently supported bottom member upon which eachsucceeding packet is vertically deposited by the ejecting means, saidmember arranged and adapted to support in the path of the projectingmember of a holder an irregularly formed packet which may have beenejected from the immediately preceding holder, whereby said member inits travel passes the latter packet down and below the said bottommember.

8. In combination with the cover fold tucking member of a bookingmachine and the actuating arm for said member, a pressure shoe carriedby and movable with said arm, and operable thereby to depress eachsucceeding book advanced from the tucking member, a travellingsupporting element, and spaced-apart open-face holders thereon movablein succeeding order by the said element to a location under the saidshoe and in receptive position for each succeeding book advanced fromthe tucking member.

LUCIAN E. PARKER.

holders mounted on said element at spaced intervals for independentoscillatory movement about axes at right angles to the planes of therespective holders during thevtravel of said element, means forpartially turning on their axes and in opposite paths during thecontinued movement of the supporting element to another location thealternate holders and their contents, a pack ingtrough having itsreceiving end adjacent the vibrating arms arranged to push the packetflatwise from each succeeding holder and into the trough, therebyarranging the flat back of each packet in contactwith the folded frontof the next adjacent packet and with the ends of such packets reversed,and means for partially turning the empty holders on their axes topacket-receiving position durlocation.

'7. In a packet assembling machine comprising a travelling supportingelement, spacedapart open face packet holders thereon, each holderhaving a projecting member at the leading end of the contained packet,and means for

